Psalm 106:22-32

22 Wundertaten im Lande Hams, Furchtbares am Schilfmeer.

23 Da sprach er, daß er sie vertilgen wollte, wenn nicht Mose, sein Auserwählter, vor ihm in dem Riß gestanden hätte, um seinen Grimm vom Verderben abzuwenden.

24 Und sie verschmähten das köstliche Land, glaubten nicht seinem Worte;

25 und sie murrten in ihren Zelten, hörten nicht auf die Stimme Jehovas.

26 Da schwur er ihnen, sie niederzuschlagen in der Wüste,

27 und ihren Samen niederzuschlagen unter den Nationen und sie zu zerstreuen in die Länder.

28 Und sie hängten sich an Baal-Peor und aßen Schlachtopfer der Toten;

29 und sie erbitterten ihn durch ihre Handlungen, und eine Plage brach unter sie ein.

30 Da stand Pinehas auf und übte Gericht, und der Plage ward gewehrt.

31 Und es wurde ihm zur Gerechtigkeit gerechnet von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht bis in Ewigkeit.

32 Und sie erzürnten ihn an dem Wasser von Meriba, und es erging Mose übel ihretwegen;

Psalm 106:22-32 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 106

This psalm is without the name of its author, as the Syriac interpreter observes. Aben Ezra, on Ps 106:47, says, that one of the wise men of Egypt (perhaps Maimonides) was of opinion that it was written in the time of the judges, when there was no king in Israel; and another, he says, thought it was written in Babylon: but he was of opinion it was wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, or by a prophetic spirit, concerning their present captivity; and so Kimchi. The petition in Ps 106:47, "gather us from among the Heathen", has led most interpreters to conclude that it was written either in the Babylonish captivity, or, as some, in the times of Antiochus: but by comparing it with 1Ch 16:7, it appears that it was written by David, at the time of the bringing up of the ark to Zion; since the first and two last verses of it are there expressly mentioned, in the psalm he gave Asaph to sing on that occasion, Ps 106:34-36, who therein might have respect to the Israelites that had been taken captive by some of their neighbours, as the Philistines, and still retained; though there is no difficulty in supposing that David, under a prophetic spirit, foresaw future captivities, and represents those that were in them. As the preceding psalm treats of the mercies and favours God bestowed upon Israel, this of their sins and provocations amidst those blessings, and of the goodness of God unto them; that notwithstanding he did not destroy them from being a people; for which they had reason to be thankful.